Dial operated typewriter



March 27, 1956 w EHEMANN 2,739,688

DIAL OPERATED TYPEWRITER Filed June 8, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John W. Ehemonn B aw ORNEY March 1956 J. w. EHEMANN DIAL OPERATED TYPEWRITER Filed June 8, 1953 val A 3 SheetsShe-et 2 m A ww.

INVENTOR John W. Ehemonn BY aw i mmxu-zwr March 27, 1956 J. w. EHEMANN 2,739,688

DIAL OPERATED TYPEWRITER Filed June 8, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR John W. Ehemonn BY ILIJ/I III I l/I/I/A' III III?! a Fq Ea ORNEY United States Patent i DIAL OPERATED TYPEWRITER John W. Ehemann, Chicago, 111., assignor to Dialrite Associates, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application June 8, 1953, Serial No. 360,228

14 Claims. (Cl. 197-47) The present invention relates broadly to writing machines, and in its specific phases to an electric toy typewriter.

Toy typewriters, in the past, have universally been made of the mechanically operated type wherein the typing pressure exerted by the finger of a child, or other person operating the typewriter, determined whether the character sought to be typed appeared dark, light, or not at all on the typed sheet. Those machines which have come onto the market during the past few years have used keyboards wherein bad typing habits, such as the one finger hunt and punch system, acquired by the child or adult using them, have been harmful when he later started learning to properly use a standard typewriter. Such machines were also undependable, short lived in most cases, and commonly lacked means for uniformly spacing the letters appearing in a typed line, so that a crude typing job was the best that could be expected. As

one means of solving part of these difliculties, Horace.

L. Walborn in his Patent Application Ser. No. 274,849, filed March 5, 1952, now U. S. Patent No. 2,699,858, set forth a dial operated electric typewriter which uniformly spaced the printed letters and made the printing pressure uniform, all of which was a drastic improvement over the previously proposed toy typewriters. That machine, however, needed simplification and modification to facilitate its manufacture and marketing at a relatively low price. it was a knowledge of these difiiculties and problems as well as a recognition of the need of a simplified, durable and satisfactorily operable electric toy typewriter salable at an acceptably low price, and particularly for childrens use, which led to the conception and development of the present invention which, generally speaking, is an improvement on the Walborn machine referred to above.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a very simplified, attractive, and yet positive acting, relatively trouble free, and durable electric typewriter especially designed for use as a toy of the better class.

Another object is to provide a dial operated typewriter having a depressable character spacing operator at the center portion of the dial.

Another object is to mount the typewriter operating dial on a rotatable tubular member fixed against endwise movement, and to closely but slidalby fit a character spacing push rod in said tubular member, and to provide the dial end of said push rod with a depressable member while the other end of said rod is operably connected to a carriage escapement mechanism so that each time said rod is depressed the escapement mechanism will be actuated to move the carriage endwise one typing character space.

Another object is to provide a dial operated electric typewriter with a single operating trigger pivoted subtantially on a common centerline with said dial carrying shaft, and adapted to actuate an electric switch and operate the typewriter each time said trigger is actuated.

2,739,688 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 ice A further object is to provide a dial operated electric typewriter with a trigger mechanism which not only actuates an electric switch to cause typing movement, but also operates a spacing mechanism for uniformly spacing the characters in each typed line.

A further object is to provide a dial operated typewriter with a pivoted type wheel carrying frame and means for operating the latter, and through it directly operating the typewriter ribbon feed and escapement mechanisms.

Still further objects and advantages ofthe present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the typewriter means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front elevational view of a preferred form of the electric toy typewriter of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a vertical center section taken substantially at line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, but with certain of the parts unsectioned for clarity of illustration.

Figure 3 shows a substantially longitudinal center section of an end portion of the platen roller and knob assembly.

Figure 4 shows a sectional front view of a fragmentary portion of the escapement mechanism.

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary front view of the dial and associated parts with the trigger in actuated position.

Figure 6 shows a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the pivotal mounting of the type wheel frame on the main frame of the assembly, certain of the parts having been omitted for clarity of illustration. 1

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary sectional front view of the ribbon spool mounting device with certain associated parts in conjunction therewith.

Figure 8 shows a fragmentary view of the solenoid operating switch together with some of the associated parts as taken at line 88 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 shows fragmentarily a preferred form 0 the solenoid used in accordance with the present invention. 1

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and ;2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the toy typewriter hasa housing 1 formed from plastic, metal, or other suitable material and on the upper face of which is mounted a main frame member 2. The forward portion of the frame 2 preferably extends upward and backward at an angle of approximately 22 /2 from vertical although the invention is not limited to this angle. At the lower portion of frame 2 there is a downwardly extending ear 3 which is approximately parallel to the upwardly and backwardly extending front portion of the frame. This ear is provided with a perforation 4 while the upwardly and backwardly extending front portion of the frame is provided with a similar perforation 5 through which extends a dial shaft assembly 6 and which is held against substantial sidewise movement by said perforations which act as bearings for said shaft.

This dial shaft assembly has an outer tubular member 7 which is slightly reduced in diameter at its rear end and on which a bevel gear 8 is mounted and held against relative rotation thereon by means of a key 9. This bevel gear is adapted to have the end of its hub remote from the gear teeth rest against and be supported by the forward side of ear 3. At the opposite side of'ear' 3 the tubular member 7 is grooved and provided with a circumferential snap key-10 which holds tubular member 7 substantially fixed against endwise movement. The outer end of tubular member 7 is reduced in size and preferably longitudinally knurledto provide for a press fit thereon of dial assembly 11. Concentrically mounted on tubular member 7 is a coil spring 12 one end of which extends through a suitable perforation 13 in the upwardly and backwardly extending front portion of frame 2 while the rear end of such spring is fastened to screw '14 joined to tubular member 7. This spring 12 is of suitable size and coiled'around tubular member 7 in a direction such that when the dial is manually rotated in operating direction, thespring will wind up and provide a moderate rotative force to return the dial assembly 11 and tubular member 7 back to starting position when the dial is released. It isthus to be seen that dial shaft assembly 6, which carries bevel gear 8 and dial assembly 11, is mounted in fixed position, although rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and is provided with means for exerting rotative force to normally hold the dial assembly 11 in its starting position.

The dial assembly has a dial portion '15, Figures 1, 2, and 5, with recesses 16, preferably in two concentric circles, on its front face, and each of those recesses 16, which are spaced apart equal angular distances, or a multiple of same, will preferably carry at the bottom thereof a letter, numeral, or other character corresponding in position and order with these on the typewheel and to be printed in the normal course of operation of the machine.

On the rear face of dial portion 15 is a. ratchet disk portion 17, which-may either be a unit part of the dial portion or a separate member fixedly joined thereto in conventional manner for rotation in unison therewith, and it is intended that the drawings be considered as diagrammatically illustrating same. Mounted on the rear face of dial portion 15, preferably adjacent the outer edge of same, is a stopmember 18, which in preferred form consists of a shock absorbing and noise deadening member 19 formed 'may be placed around tubular member 7, and between trigger'member 21 and the backwardly inclined front portion of main frame 2 to provide suitable clearance. Thistrigger member 21, Figure 5, extends in two directions from .its pivot mounting to form operating arm 23 and switch actuating arm 24. Operating arm 23, Figure 2, extends out to the outer edge of dial portion 15 to an outturned base portion 25, the forward edge of which is turned upward substantially parallel to the'front face of dial portion 15 to form actuating member 26 adapted to be contacted by the finger of a person operating the typewriter, with such finger in any one of the recesses 16, and with the dial rotated so as to actuate trigger 21. The switch actuating arm 24, Figures 5 and 8, extends outward from its pivot point and has a backwardly extending arm portion 26a adapted to contact switch operator 27 of electric switch 28.

Mounted on the rearwardly inclined portion of main frame 2 adjacent switch 28 by means of pivot 29, Figure 5, is a bell crank 30 the upper arm 31 of which passes over backwardly extending arm portion 26a oftrigger 21, Figure 8, so as to be actuated thereby when'same operates switch 28. This arm 31 is normally held in retracted position by tension spring 32 so as to be in contact with the upper face of backwardly extending arm portion 26a of trigger 21 when the latter is in its unactuated or neutral position and resting on the bottom edge 33 of notch 34, Figure 5, in the rearwardly inclined upper portion of main frame 2. The downwardly extending arm 35 of bell crank 30 has a forwardly extending stop member 36 adapted to move into engagement with a tooth 37 of ratchet disk 17 when bell crank 30 is rotated in counterclockwise direction due to rotation of dial assembly 11 and actuation of trigger 21 as shown in Figure 5. In other words, when trigger 21 is operated in clockwise direction this trigger through its arm 26a actuates bell crank 30 in counterclockwise direction to move stop member 36 in front of the next approaching tooth 37 on ratchet disk 17 and thus hold dial portion 15 in definite relation and timing with the actuation of switch 28 so as to avoid overrun of the dial due to inertia, and provide uniform spacing of the letters, numerals, or other characters to be typed as hereinafter set forth.

The electricity for operating the electric portion of this typewriter mechanism is brought into the typewriter through leads 38, Figure 2, one lead 39 of which is connected direct to a push type solenoid 40 while the second lead 41 is connected to input terminal 42 of electric switch 28. Output terminal 43 of that switch is connected to lead 44, which in turn is connected to solenoid 40 in conventional manner. It'is thus to be seen that when the circuit through switch 2% is closed this completes the electrical circuit through solenoid 40 and actuates same to move its operating plunger 45, Figure 9, in an upward direction through guide bushing 46 so as to operably contact actuating arm 47 of type wheel frame 48, theoperation of which will be hereinafter set forth.

Upon opening the circuit through switch 28 solenoid 40 is de-energized and operating plunger retracts, due to gravity when assembled-in the position shown, to its lowermost position along with solenoid plunger 49. For

' convenience of operation solenoid 40 is mounted on a bracket 50 conventionally fastened on main frame 2 by means of screws 51 or the like. This bracket 50 also has an inturned arm portion 52 which acts as a support for solenoid plunger 49 when same is in its retracted or inoperative position as shown in Figure 9, and also determines the amount of travel of plunger 49.

Main frame 2 has extending upward from its side edges, substantially intermediate between its forward and rear ends, 'arm members 53 and 54, Figure 7, each of which respectively have outturned upper ends 55 and 56 on which are rotatably mounted shouldered ribbon spool shafts 57 and 58, the reduced diameters of which rotatably pass throughperforations 59 and 60 of said outturned upper ends of arm members 53 and 54. A conventional spring washer'61 or the like, and circumferential snap key 62 fitting into a relatively deep groove in shafts 57 and 58 maybe used to supply a small amount of frictional tension to hold-ribbon spool shafts 57 and 58 against completely free rotation while allowing them to be readily-rotated as required for movement of the ribbon from one of the ribbon spools 63 to the other. The ribbon spool shafts may be provided with slots 64 extending downward from their upper end and slightly spread to provide mild frictional holding tension on each of the spools 63, although any other equivalent spool holding means may be provided.

At the opposite'side edges of the rear portion of main frame 2 there are provided upwardly extending carriage'g'uide arms with the forward pair 65, Figure 2, having backward turned upper ends 66, while the back pair of carriage guide arms 67 have their upper ends 68 turned forward. On each of the front pair of carguide arms 65 and the rollers 69mounted thereon. The back edge of carriage frame 73 fits between the forward turned upper ends 68 of back carriage guide arms 67 and the rollers 71 mounted thereon. Carriage frame 73 is of a width just fitting the space between carriage guide arms 65 and 67 while being freely movable endwise therebetween. The carriage frame 73 is therefore supported and guided in its endwise movements so as to be satisfactorily stabilized for typewriting work.

The outer ends of carriage frame 73, Figure 1, are bent upward to form carriage end members 74 and 75 which are perforated to receive and closely fit stub shafts 76 and 77 which carry platen roller 78. These stub shafts 76 and 77 are fastened to the platen roller by means of pins 79, as is shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 3, to facilitate assembly of the platen roller on the carriage frame. The left hand knob 80 of the platen roller is preferably of plainconstruction while the right hand knob 81, Figure 3, preferably has a detent 82 inset into a recess 83 with a short compression spring 84 urging said detent toward carriage end member 75 which is provided with a series of recesses 85 spaced apart a uniform distance which will permit holding the platen roller 78 at various rotative spacings which correspond to the spacings between lines of typed matter. Platen roller 78 accordingly can be rotated forward or backward equal line spacing increments in accordance with standard typewriting practice.

A paper deflector 86 is conventionally mounted as by spot welding on carriage frame 73 and preferably slightly spaced above same by means of spacers 87. The rear portion of deflector 86 is preferably provided with spring tabs 147 anchored at their upper end and free at their lower end to frictionally grip the paper to platen roller 78 while the forward edge of paper deflector 86 is preferably provided with paper guides 88, Figure 1.

If desired a paper bail 89 having backwardly extending arms 90, Figures 1 and 3, may be pivotally mounted on the upper edge of carriage end members 74 and 75. This paper bail 89 may be pulled toward platen roller 78 by means of a tension spring 91 to hold the paper passing around the platen roller close to same above the upper ends of paper guides 88 in satisfactory typing position.

Carriage frame 73 is provided with a cut-out portion 92 extending longitudinally thereof substantially from end to end of same. On the under face of the forward portion of this carriage frame 73 is mounted -a rack 93 with the teeth 94 thereof extending backward under the forward edge of cut-out portion 92 of carriage frame 73 for engagement with an escapement mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Mounted at the right hand end of the under face of carriage frame 73, Figure l, by means of a loop member 95 is a tension spring 96 which is anchored at its other end to housing 1 at the left hand side thereof by means of a fastening member 97. This spring 96 provides the force which moves the typewriter carriage to the left one letter space each time the escapement mechanism is operated, all in accordance with standard practice.

The mounting and operation of the escapement mechanism is as follows: At the rear end of main frame 2, Figure 2, between back carriage guide arms 67 are a pair of upturned members 99 which form a U between which isplaced an escapement main arm 100 and which is pivotally mounted on pivot pin 101 carried by said upturned members 99. This escapement main arm extends forward a short distance and then angles down and forward with a tension spring 102 connected between its lower end and the lower end of ear 3 with the lower forward edge portion 103 of said arm fitting against the rear end of space bar push rod 104 which is held against displacement to the left by means of a circumferential snap key 105. This space bar push rod 104 closely but freely fits the bore of tubular member 7 and extends up through dial assembly 11 and has a space bar operating knob 106 mounted 'on the outer end thereof, for instance by means of a press fit. The back face of this knob .106 preferably stands flush or slightly forward of the face of dial portion 15 of the dial assembly which has a recess 107 in its front face into which knob 106 can be pressed to actuate the escapement mechanism which will be hereinafter described. A very mild tension compression spring 148 may be used under knob 106 to hold same in retracted position at all times except when same is to be depressed for character spacing purposes.

As seen in Figure 2 the escapement main arm carries at its upper forward end an upwardly extending arm 108, the upper end 109 of which extends forward normally above a space between the teeth 94 of escapement rack 93, but in position to be moved down between those teeth when the escapement mechanism is actuated. The forward portion of this escapement main arm 100, Figures 2 and 4, directly below upper end 109 of upwardly extending arm 108 has a sidewise turned ear 110 on which is mounted, by means of pivot pin 111, a ratchet dog 112 the point 113 of which is normally in engagement with teeth 94 of escapement rack 93 and adapted to be temporarily disengaged from same when the escapement mechanism is "actuated. The lower end of this ratchet. dog 112 is provided with an car 114 which extends under sidewise turned ear 110 which forms a stop for said ear 114 to limit the counter-clockwise movement of dog 112 when withdrawn from teeth 94, and to which car 114 is attached a tension spring 115, the lower end of which is joined to escapement main arm 100 below upwardly extending arm 108 so as to hold point 113 of ratchet dog 112 in engagement with rack teeth 94 and ready to be disengaged and held-below rack 93 by the stop action of ear 114 on sidewise turned ear 110 while the carriage moves sidewise due to the pull of spring 96 until a rack tooth 94 comes up against the side of upper end 109 of arm 108, and then reengaged with the next rack tooth when the escapement mechanism 98 has been fully actuated.

Main frame 2 also has a pair of spaced apart upturned arms 116, just forward of the body portion of escapement arm 100,and which has a forwardly extending arm 117 with a cam face 118, said arm passing between the upturned arms 116 for up and down motion therebetween while being freely held against substantial sidewise motion. Cam face 118 forms the actuation point of operating the escapement mechanism 98 each time the typewriter passes through a printing cycle, as will be hereinafter described.

The escapement mechanism operates as follows: With the tension of spring 96 pulling the carriage to the left, as seen in Figure 1, same will be held against movement due to point 113, Figure 4, of escapement dog 112 normally being, when at rest, between a pair of teeth 94 on the escapement rack 93, such Figure 4 showing the point 113 disengaged from the rack teeth 94 during a portion of the letter spacing actuation cycle of the escapement mechanism. Actuation of the escapement mechanism moves escapement main arm 100 in counterclockwise direction about its pivot 101, Figure 2. This moves upper end 109 of upwardly extending arm 108, Figure 2, between a pair of teeth of the rack directly below said upper end. At the same time this pulls, point 113 of ratchet dog 112 from between a pair of teeth, into the position shown in Figure 4, and allows the carriage to move endwise a part space to take up the slack between the side of upper end 109 and the side of the adjacent tooth 94, normally about /2 of a printed character spacing, with the point 113 of ratchet dog 112 then resting on the under face of a ratchet tooth. The return or clockwise movement of escapement main arm 100 moves upper end 109 of arm 108 upward from between the teeth which it has been engaging and this movement causes ratchet dog 112to pivotsli'ghtly on its 'pivotpinlll and to drop into the space between the next pair of teeth 94 of rack 93 the moment that upper end 109 'inov'es out from between the pair 'of teeth which it has been engaging, and the carriage then moves endwise under the influence of spring 96 thus completing the escapement actuation of the carriage one typed space in an endwise direction.

It is to be noted that by pushing on the end of space bar operating knob 106, Figure 2, the movement of this knob, through space bar push rod 104, will move the escapement main arm 100 in a counterclockwise direction, as noted above, and removing pressure from knob 106 will allow space bar push rod 104 to move to the left under the influence of tension spring 102 and compression spring 148 thus allowing the escapement main arm 100 to move in clockwise direction thus completing the escapement operation cycle which has been described above. It is thus to be seen that each time the space bar operating knob 106 is pushed in and allowed to come back out again the carriage will advance one space, within limits of the typewriters operation, such as is required for spacing between words in a typed line.

The type wheel frame 48, Figures 6 and 7, has side arms 119 and 120 each of which, respectively, has pivot ears 121 and 122 pivotally mounted respectively on arm members 53 and 54 by means of pivot pins 123 and 124. Type wheel frame 48 has an upwardly extending portion 125, the upper end portion 126 of which is turned forward as is lower portion 127, both of which are suitably perforated to form bearings for type wheel shaft 128, Figures 2 and 6, which may be held substantially free from enda wise movement by means of upper and lower pins 129 and 130. Mounted on the lower end of type wheel shaft 128 is a bevel gear 131 which is anchored in fixed position thereon in any conventional manner, such as by means of said lower pin 130. On the upper end of type wheel shaft 128 is type wheel 132 which is held in fixed position thereon by means of upper pin 129. To dress up the upper face of the type wheel, a knob 133 may be fitted on the upper end of shaft 128 and held in place by means of aset screw 134, as shown in Figure 2. Operating 1 arm 47 may be in the form of an extension of lower portion 127 of the type wheel frame 48. At the lower portion of the type wheel frame 48 is a backwardly extending member 135 the rearmost end of which is in operating position above cam face 118 of the escapement main arm 100. It is thus to be seen that when the type wheel frame is tilted backward for printing, this arm 135 will press down on cam 118 to actuate the escapement mechanism 98 by rotating escapement main arm 100 in counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2, against the tension of spring 102 which normally acts to resiliently hold the type wheel frame 48 in its non-tilted position.

An upper backwardly extending member 136 of upwardly extending portion 125 of the typewheel frame 48 is used to actuate the ribbon feed assembly 137 as will be hereinafter described. In order that the backward tilting of the type wheel frame 48 under printing operation will have little effect on themeshing of bevel gears 8 and 131, the axis of pivot pins 123 and 124 preferably passes between said gears at the upper portion of their meshing line.

The ribbon feed assembly 137 has an elongated body member 138, Figures 2, 6, and 7, the ends of which extend forward over the outturned upper ends 55 and 56 of main frame arm members 53 and 54. The left hand forwardly extending end of elongated body member 138, as seen in Figure 7, is perforated so that ribbon spool shaft 57 will pass therethrough and act as a pivotfor same. The other end of elongated body member 138 has an arcuate slot so that ribbon spool shaft 58 can pass through same and yet not interfere with the pivotal movement of elongated body member 138 toward the platen roller "78 about ribbon spool shaft 57. At the rear edge of elongated body member l38near the slotted end of same there is a downturned tab 140 which is perforated for engagement withmild tension spring 139, the forward end of which, in turn, is engaged with arm member 54 so as to resiliently hold said elongated body member normally in forward retracted position. Projecting upward on the rear edge of elongated body member 138 are a pair of guide members 141 and 142 for ribbon 143 as it passes from one ribbon spool 63 to the other. At the forward edge of the center portion of elongated body member 138 is a downwardly and forwardly inciined narrow elongated member 144 which stiffens the elongated body member 138 and at the same time provides a stable surface to be contacted by the upper backwardly extending member 136 of type wheel frame 48 so that actuating the latter will actuate said ribbon feed assembly. Spring 139 in combination with elongated member 144 of ribbon feed assembly 137 and member 136 of type wheel frame 48 resiliently holds said type wheel frame in neutral position between actuations of same.

Joined to the left hand ribbon spool shaft 57 is disk 145 with uni-directional ratchet teeth on its under face. The elongated body member 138 under disk 145 is provided with a unit tongue member which is bent upward slightly to form a ratchet dog 146 for engaging the ratchet teeth on the under face of disk 145 and step by step rotating same in accordance with the pivotal movements of elongated body member 138.

The operation of the typewriter leaves the ribbon 143 normally sufficiently forward of platen roller 78 to permit reading what is being typed. However, when typewheel 132 is moved toward the platen roller to type under actuation of the solenoid 40, upper backwardly extending member 136 contacts the narrow elongated member 144 on the front edge of elongated body member 138 to pivotally move saine about ribbon spool shaft 57 and bring ribbon 143 into typing position closely adjacent platen roller 78. Upon return of type wheel frame 48 to normal position, spring 139 will return elongated body member 138 to its starting position. This back and forth motion of elongated body member 138 through ratchet faced disc 145, and ratchet dog 146, rotates the left hand ribbon spool 21 short angular distance during each actuation, and as the typing continues, gradually winds the ribbon on that spool. When the ribbon has been transferred to the left hand spool in this manner, rotation of the right hand spool will transfer the ribbon back to that spool for reuse as before since each spool is merely held in place on its respective shaft by a mild frictional force.

Operation of the typewriter is as follows: With the typewriter paper (not shown) around platen roller 78 ready to receive typed letters, numbers, or characters and with leads 38 connected to a suitable source of electricity, the first thing to do following moving the carriage to starting position, is to insert the operators finger in the appropriate pre-chosen dial recess 16 and rotate the dial assembly 11 in clockwise direction as seen in Figures 1 and 5. When the operators finger comes up against arm portion 26 of trigger member 21, further movement rotates bell crank 30 so as to cause its stop member 36 to engage a tooth 37 of ratchet disk 17, which uniformly spaces the characters of a line being typed, and then the trigger closes electric switch 28. This actuates solenoid 40 which, through operating plunger 45, forcibly tilts the typewheel frame in clockwise direction, Figure 2, to cause typewheel 132, which has been rotated to corresponding position through bevel gears 8 and 131, to forcibly strike the typewriter ribbon 143 to drive itagainst the paper on the platen roller and print the character involved. A pair of thirty-six tooth bevel gears 8 and 131 have been successfully used for this purpose although other gears or means which will make the dial and ated will move upward far enough to throw typewheel 132 by inertia up against the ribbon "and sheet being but not hold it there since it is best tole'ave some'clearance between the typewheel and platen roller even though the electric switch is held ciosed. A convenient clearance is A to which clearance prevents blurring of the typed matter which might be otherwise caused by carriage movement or vibration of the typewheel due to the use of A. C. to operate the solenoid. During this pivotal actuation of the type wheel frame, the ribbon will have been moved into typing position close to the platen roller and then retracted to starting position with a small amount of ribbon feed, and the escapement mechanism will have operated to move the carriage assembly one character spacing to the left as seen in Figure 1. This operation of the dial to type different characters, and depression of knob 106 each time a space between characters is desired will produce a typed line, following which returning the carriage to its right hand position, and rotating the platen roller to move the paper to the next line typing position, places the typewriter in condition for continuing typing in conventional manner.

Other modes of applying the principle of my typewriter invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A typewriting mechanism, which comprises a main frame, a tubular shaft rotatably mounted in fixed location on said main frame at the forward end of same, a dial mounted on said tubular shaft for rotation therewith, said dial indicating in proper location the characters to be typed, a trigger, engageable means at each character indicated on said dial, said engageable means facilitating rotation of said dial and actuation of said trigger, a carriage at the rear end of said main frame and having a carriage frame carrying a platen roller and escapement rack as part of same, means for supporting and guiding said carriage while permitting same to be moved in endwise direction, an escapement mechanism cooperating with said escapement rack on said carriage, aspacing mechanism, said spacing mechanism comprising an endwise movable shaft closely but slidably fitting said tubular shaft, said lengthwise movable shaft having an actuator at the dial end of same while the other end of said shaft is in operable contact with said escapement mechanism, resilient means applying endwise moving force to said carriage, a typewheel carrying projecting character type in the order and spacing corresponding with the order and operative spacing of said characters and engageable means on said dial, a type wheel frame pivotally mounted in operative position on said main frame, a shaft carried by said type wheel frame, said shaft having said type wheel mounted thereon for rotation therewith, means connecting said tubular shaft with said shaft carrying said type wheel so that rotation of said tubular shaft correspondingly rotates said type wheel carrying shaft, a solenoid, an actuating member on said type wheel frame, means mechanically connecting said solenoid to said actuating member of said type wheel frame for moving said type wheel into typing relation with said platen roller when said solenoid is actuated, and an electric switch for closing the electric circuit to said solenoid, the actuation of said trigger closing said electric switch with resultant operation of the solenoid, movement of the type wheel to type the character indicated by the character on said dial adjacent said trigger at the time of its actuation, and actuation of the escapement mechanism.

2. A typewriting mechanism as set forth .in claim 1, wherein said trigger is pivotally mounted substantially on the centerline of said tubular shaft, and wherein the end portion of said trigger remote from the operated end thereof operably actuates said electric switch.

3. A typewriting mechanism as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said means for connecting said dial carrying tubular shaft to the second shaft carrying the type wheel consists of a pair of bevel gears operably in mesh with each other and respectively anchored to their corresponding shafts for rotation in unison therewith, said type wheel carrying frame being pivotally mounted on an axis passing approximately through the mating faces of said bevel gears such that the tilting of the type wheel carrying frame under printing actuation will have little efiect on the operative meshing of said gears. I

4. A typewriting mechanism as set'forth in claim 1, wherein said engageable means at each character indicated on the dial consists of a wall portion, said wall portion being engageable by the operators finger for ro tating said dial until his finger engages and operatively actuates the trigger.

5. In a typewriting mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means mechanically connecting the solenoid to the actuating member of the'type wheel frame consists of a push member actuated by said solenoid, and said actuating member on said type wheel frame consists of an extending arm member on said type wheel frame, said push memberand arm member being so located that endwise movement of said push member against said arm member will correspondingly tilt the type wheel frame.

6. A typewriting mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said escapement mechanism which cooperates with the escapement rack on the carriage has a pivotally mounted escapement main arm which has a fixed arm with a portion for engaging said escapement rack when said main arm is moved in operating direction from its position of rest, said main arm also having a movable dog pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to engage said rack and hold said carriage against movement in typewriting direction when said escapement main arm .is at rest and yet disengaging from said rack when said escapement main arm is actuated to operate said escapement, said main arm having a stop for holding said movable .dog against rotation due to the pressure exerted by the resilient means which applies endwise moving force to the carriage, and a resilient means which normally applies fore to hold said movable dog up against said stop.

' 7. In a dial actuated typewriter, a tubular shaft on which said dial is mounted, an escapement mechanism, a shaft means closely but slidably fitting said tubular member, one end of said shaft means being in operable contact with said escapement mechanism while the other end of said shaft has an operating portion, whereby move ment of said operating portion will move said shaft endwise in said tubular member to actuate said escapement mechanism.

A 8. In a dial operated electric typewriter, a main frame, a shaft on which said dial is mounted, a second shaft carrying a type wheel on the end of same, positive drive means connecting said shafts so that the rotation of said dial carrying shaft will rotate said type wheel carrying shaft, a frame on which said type wheel carrying shaft is mounted, a pivot means on said main frame for said type wheel carrying shaft frame, said pivot means facilitating limited angular movement of said type wheel carrying shaft relative to said dial carrying shaft, said dial having engageable means on its face with characters to be typed being indicated at proper location on said dial relative to said engageable means and in corresponding location on said type wheel, stop means for said dial, and means for returning said dial to starting position after each rotary actuation of same, a ratchet disk mounted in fixed position on said dial for rotation in unison therewith, a trigger member having a portion extending over the face of said dial in the area carrying said engageable means, an electric switch, said trigger member being of elongated construction, means for pivotally mounting said trigger member on said main frame, a separate pivotally mounted member having a portion engageable with the teeth of said ratchet disk, said trigger member engaging said last named pivotally mounted member tomove same into engagement with a tooth of said ratchet disk to hold same in fixed position when said electric switch is actuated by said trigger, and electrically operated means connected to said switch for operatively tilting said type wheel shaft carrying frame each time said switch is operated by said trigger movement and delivers operating current to said electrically operated means.

9. In a dial operated electric typewriter as set forth in claim 8, wherein said separate pivotally mounted member having a portion engageable with the teeth of the ratchet disk is in the form of a pivotally mounted bell crank, one arm of which is engageable by said trigger in its movement to actuate said switch while the other arm of said bell crank during said trigger actuating movement engages a tooth of the ratchet disk to hold same in fixed predetermined position when the electric circuit through said switch is closed, and means for returning said bell crank toinitial position when said trigger is released.

10. In a dial operated electric typewriter as set forth in claim 8, wherein said trigger member has is pivotal axis substantially the same as the pivotal axis of said shaft carrying said dial, said trigger member extending in one direction from said axis to the portion extending over the face of the dial for actuation upon rotation of the latter while the other end of said trigger member extends into operating position relative to said electric switch so that actuation of the portion of said trigger extending over the front face of said dial will automatically operate said switch and close the electric circuit therethrough.

ll. in a dial operated electric typewriter as set forth in claim 8, wherein said trigger member has its pivotal axis substantially the same as the pivotal-axis of said shaft carrying said dial, said trigger member extending in one direction from said axis to the portion extending over the face of the dial for actuation upon rotation of the latter while the otherend of said trigger member extends into operating position relative to said electric switch so that actuation of the portion of said trigger extending over the front face of said dial will automatically operate said switch and close the electric circuit therethrough, said separate pivotally mounted member having a portion engageable with the teeth of the ratchet disk being in the form of a pivotally mounted bell crank, one arm of which is engageable by the electric switch operating end of the trigger member, while the other arm of said bell crank has a stop member on its end adapted to engage a tooth of the ratchet disk to hold same in fixed predetermined position when the actuation of said trigger closes the electric circuit through said .12 switch, and resilient means for returning said bell crank to initial position and :holding said trigger out of operating contact with said electric switch when said trigger is released. 7

12. In a typewriter, a main frame, a type wheel carrying shaft, a frame for said type wheel carrying shaft, 'means' for pivotally mounting said frame for the type wheel carrying shaft on said main frame, an escapement mechanism, a-ribbon feed mechanism, means for rotating said type wheel carrying'shaft in predetermined amounts, a typewriter carriage including a platen roller, a solenoid,

-means for electrically operating said solenoid at various rotary. positions of said typ'e wheel carrying shaft, and

means for resilientlyholding said type wheel carrying shaft frame in neutral position while permitting same to be tilted to bring said type wheel into printing engagement with theplat'en roller of said carriage, said type Wheel shaft 'c'arryin'gframe having a member actuatable by said solenoid to move said type wheel in printing direction, and said type wheel fshaft frame also having a pair of extending members one of which operates said ribbon feed mechanism and the other said escapement mechanism each time said solenoid is operated.

13. In a typewriter as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for rotating said-type wheel carrying shaft in predetermined amount includes a dial mounted on a rotary shaft with means for connecting said shaft with said type wheel carrying shaft for positive rotation of the latter.

14. In1a typewriter as 'set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for rotating said type wheel carrying shaft in predetermined amountincludes a dialmounted on a rotary shaft with means for-connecting said shaft with 'said type wheel carrying shaft for positive rotation of the latter, said dial indicating in proper locationon its face the characters to be "typed and which appear in corresponding order and proportionate position on said type wheel,

engageable means at each character indicated on said dial,

a trigger, and said means for electrically operating said solenoid 'comp'risingan electric switch actuatable by the mechanical operation of said trigger to deliver operating current -for'said solenoid, said engageable means on said dial facilitating-rotatioh of said dial and the actuation of said trigger to close the electric circuit through said switch at the proper position for printing the character indicated on the dial at the engageable means which facilitated the peraaon of the trigger.

References Cited 'in the file of this patent iiNIrE'D STATES PATENTS 2,602,675 l3erger May 21, 1935 

